While she was busy, Xiaobao's little head quietly poked in from the crack of the door, his eyes flashing with anticipation: "Mom, can I give one of these to Brother Huzi to try?"

Although the family has no shortage of these fruits, Xiaobao and his brother know very well that these things are definitely not ordinary, otherwise why would no one in the village be interested in them.

Despite their inner desire, they did not dare to decide to give the fruit to Hu Zi on their own initiative. They had to get their mother's consent.

A warm current surged in Ran He's heart, and the smile in his eyes deepened.

Looking at these two children, their friendship is extremely strong and is not shaken by the poverty of Huzi's family. They are truly loyal and righteous.

"Of course, Hu Zi is your good friend, and good things should be shared with friends."

Hearing this, Xiao Bao smiled so hard that his mouth almost extended to his ears. "I want to thank mom on behalf of Brother Hu Zi. He must like the taste of this fruit."

The corners of Ran He's mouth curled up slightly, forming a gentle and mysterious smile. Her eyes moved and lingered on the remaining apples, as if each apple carried a part of her heart.

Then, with skillful and graceful movements, she picked up a sharp knife, cut each surface evenly and perfectly, and placed them on a plate like a work of art, ready to share this fresh sweetness with the hard-working chefs.

After returning home, Ran He checked every corner meticulously. Her eyes were sharp but full of warmth. She made sure that all the guys did their job meticulously without any slackness or perfunctoriness.

Those attentive traces were like a string of beautiful notes in her heart, playing the melody of trust and respect.

Ran He's personality is just like this. She always repays those who treat her sincerely and cherishes them even more. However, once she encounters calculations and misconduct, she will be ruthless and stick to her principles, not allowing any impurities to disturb this pure space.

"Wash your hands and eat."

These words floated gently from her mouth, like a spring breeze blowing through the craftsmen's tired but expectant hearts.

The workers slowly descended from the roof along the ladder with satisfied smiles on their faces. They washed the dust off their hands and prepared to enjoy a rare feast.

There was still a wide variety of dishes on the table. Although the menu was the same for two consecutive days, the homely warmth and taste made everyone enjoy it, and every bite was full of happiness.

For them, apart from this moment of enjoyment, their daily diet is simple and unpretentious. Therefore, the delicacies in front of them seem particularly precious and mouth-watering.

"I bought some fruits today, everyone come and try them."

Ran He pointed at the plate of apples, her tone full of invitational warmth. Then, she turned lightly, found a seat at the dining table and sat down, indicating that everyone could start eating.

Time is running out, as the village chief and villagers are about to arrive, and she needs to make good use of every minute and every second.

The lunch was just halfway through when the sound of hurried footsteps was heard outside the door. The familiar sound heralded the arrival of visitors.

Ran He knew it well and there was no need to guess. In order not to miss the opportunity, they came early without even having time to enjoy lunch, to show their sincerity and enthusiasm.

Although there were people waiting outside the door, Ran He still enjoyed his lunch leisurely. After tidying up the table, he slowly stood up to greet those expectant faces.

After a hearty meal, the craftsmen were refreshed and devoted themselves to their work again. They knew clearly in their minds that only by redoubled their efforts and ensured the quality and efficiency of their work could they live up to the deep friendship of their master.

As the door creaked open, the village chief walked in first, followed by representatives from each household. Ran He's eyes quickly scanned the familiar faces, and she felt a sense of familiarity in her heart.

The Zheng family sent the clever Zhu Cuihua, while the Wu family sent the calm Ran Erni and the honest Ma Er.

"Okay, everyone, come in."

Fortunately, the courtyard is spacious enough to accommodate so many people gathering together.

As soon as Ran He finished speaking, people filed in, and the scene seemed both lively and orderly.

"I know what you are thinking. You all want to participate in mushroom gathering like Puppy Egg in exchange for income. I welcome you to join, but I have not forgotten the mistakes of the past."

Her words were candid but carried a weight that could not be ignored, a reminder of past lessons.

Faced with Ran He's frankness, everyone couldn't help but feel nervous, especially those who had a grudge against her, who held their breath for fear of missing this opportunity.

"From now on, you can collect mushrooms in exchange for rewards, but not everyone can enjoy the same treatment as Puppy Egg. Those who are willing to accept a specific price, please come to me later to queue up and register. I will announce the specific price. Those who can accept it can participate. If you feel it is inappropriate, I will not force you."

Ran He's words were fair and inclusive, leaving room for everyone to choose, while also stating his bottom line and principles.

At this moment, the villagers completely understood the profound meaning of the "pursuit" mentioned by Ran He - it was not to follow the generous standard proposed by Xiao Gou Dan, ten copper coins per catty, but a more demanding number. This made people wonder, would the final price be a meager profit of eight copper coins per catty, or an even worse seven copper coins per catty?

As if by agreement, everyone's eyes were focused on the village director, and everyone's face was filled with shock at having not expected this sudden change.

This sudden turn of events made their originally expectant mood become uneasy.

The village director pursed his lips, his eyes wandered briefly among the crowd, and finally nodded slowly. After weighing the pros and cons, his inner balance still leaned towards realistic considerations.

In his opinion, even if the price offered by Ran He was not satisfactory, there was still an opportunity for cooperation. Compared to missing it completely, some sacrifices might be inevitable.

As the village chief nodded in approval, any potential dissatisfaction could only be swallowed back in silence.

The villagers are well aware that in this collective activity, unity is far more important than personal gain. If some people are excluded due to excessive pickiness, then the bitter feeling of being abandoned will become a major hidden danger to unity.

A barely perceptible sneer appeared on Ran He's lips. She knew clearly in her mind that these people were trying to please her only out of a desire for profit.

The unusual friendship between Zhu Cuihua, Xiao Goudan and herself naturally gave her more say and convenience.

Immediately afterwards, the villagers formed a long queue and came forward one by one to register the unit price of remuneration they were willing to accept.

Ran He held a booklet in his hand, carefully recording each person's name and their asking price, and every word seemed so serious.

She could easily recognize the familiar faces in the village, but she was not sure about the few strangers who had just moved in or visited occasionally.

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